THE MESA TRIBUNE | JUNE 6, 2021
SPORTS
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TheMesaTribune.com @EVTNow /EVTNow
Joe Germaine returning to his roots as Mtn View head coach BY ZACH ALVIRA Tribune Sports Editor
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t’s been nearly two decades since Joe Germaine donned a Mountain View football Jersey. The last time he did, he was a senior quarterback for the Toros and led them to the 1993 state championship. Germaine went on to star at Ohio State, winning the 1997 Rose Bowl with the Buckeyes, and was drafted into the NFL. But now, several years later, Germaine is once again sporting the school’s iconic “MV” logo. This time, it’s as head coach. “It feels great, I feel honored to be here,” Germaine said. “This is home for me. I played for Jesse Parker, one of the great legends of coaching who made a great impact on my life. So to come back and be a part of what I grew up doing, it means a lot.” The logo, which has the letters ‘M’ and ‘V’ intertwined with the horns of a Toro, is more than just that to Mountain View faithful. For many, it represents the rich history of the school since its opening in 1997. To the football program, it represents its seven state championships — �ive by former coach Jesse Parker, who the football �ield at Mountain View was named after in 2016, one year before Parker died. For Germaine, the logo represents several things, including his childhood. He grew up just down the street from Mountain View and watched the program and city grow over the years. He played under Parker and helped capture his former coach’s fourth and �inal state title while leading the Mountain View program. Those championships also cemented Mountain View’s legacy as one of the most dominant programs in the state in the 1990s. “There is a football tradition here at Mountain View that is as rich as any program in the state,” Germaine said. “We are all fortunate to be a part of it. We aren’t going to measure our success on programs in the past. We are going to be who we are.” Germaine was hired in April after Mountain View parted ways with former coach Mike Fell. In Four seasons as head coach, Fell led the Toros to a 29-23 overall record
cord before he suffered a should’ve been in the playoffs last year but as our coaches say, we have to be forgetful broken collarbone. Now a senior, he aims and move on. No excuses. We have to put to pick up where he left everything out there and leave no regrets.” Mountain View recently began its sumoff with his injury. And with Germaine — a for- mer program, lifting weights at the school mer quarterback at the and practicing at nearby Stapley Junior highest level — now High while a new turf practice and game leading the charge, he �ield is installed at the high school. A new has seen improvement video board will also be installed at Jesse in his overall ability un- Parker Field. The renovations have brought exciteder center. “He’s helping me be ment to the program and surrounding the best quarterback I community. But with that, also comes high can be,” Roberts said. expectations. For now, Germaine remains “We are working really focused on continuing to build chemistry hard right now. (Ger- with his new players. “We are learning new systems on all maine) demands us to do the right thing in three phases of the game, so there is a big Joe Germaine, who won a state championship with Mountain View in 1993, returned to his alma mater as head coach of the and outside of football. learning curve right now,” Germaine said. football program and hopes to once again establish it as an in- It’s nice to have some- “I think our mindset right now is to just one who has won state get accustomed to the new way we are dostate power. (Zach Alvira/Tribune Staff) championships here and ing things. I thought our spring was very and made three playoff appearances. who has won Rose Bowls. He knows how productive and I hope we can continue to Germaine’s career as a coach took off to win, and he can help us win, too.” draw our team closer together. when he was hired at Queen Creek. He “That will be an important factor this Roberts is one of several returning startcoached the Bulldogs to the 4A state ers for Mountain View this upcoming sea- summer.” championship in 2012. He stepped down son. On offense, junior tight end Jackson to offensive coordinator shortly after and Bowers will provide a weapon for Roberts let Travis Schureman take over. But in on the outside. At 6-foot-5, Bow2019, Germaine again took over as head ers has already received several coach after Schureman stepped down to Division I offers, including from an assistant position. Arizona State, Arizona, Utah, The Bulldogs went 15-7 in the 6A Con- Michigan State and Georgia Tech. ference with Germaine in his second stint But where Mountain View will as head coach. Schureman was promoted likely thrive next season is on to once again take over Queen Creek after its defense. Malaki Ta’ase, who Germaine’s departure. emerged as one of the state’s top Upon meeting the Mountain View play- defensive ends last season, reers for the �irst time, he asked what the turns for his senior year. Suliasi logo meant to them. Uasike, who helped Ta’ase wreak “When I see that logo, it causes an emo- havoc on opposing offensive tion inside of me,” Germaine said. “It was lines, also returns. great to hear all of their responses. It’s imAs a whole, Mountain View’s portant to them.” defense combined for 41 sacks in Germaine has taken all of Mountain last year’s shortened season. And View’s quarterbacks under his wing this despite �inishing 6-2, they missed season, including returning starter and the playoffs. Uasike said they’ve soon-to-be senior Willy Roberts. entered the offseason hungrier Soon-to-be senior quarterback Willy Roberts has benefitted from Germaine’s coaching so far this spring Roberts shared time at quarterback as a for success than in year’s past. and into the summer. He said there’s a new mindset sophomore before emerging as the starter “We have a chip on our shoulwith the program overall. (Zach Alvira/Tribune Staff) last season. He led the Toros to a 6-0 re- der,” Uasike said. “We feel like we
